Grandparents' Day

In honor of Grandparents' Day, PDub (with some major convincing) and I decided to journey down memory lane and pay a tribute to our grandparents.  Although we have lost a few thus far, each of them remains living in our hearts.

JDub's Grandparents.......

Grandma Zella: I still drink out of her blue, vintage glasses, choose my earrings out of her jewelry box, and cook in her cast iron skillets.  Even though my favorite color is green, I will always be partial to blue, her favorite color; she made this very clear by her blue house, blue Buick, and blue outfits.  Sleepovers with grandma always included playing marbles, watching Lawrence Welk, clearing off the books on my half of her bed, and waking up to the smell of frying bacon.  She was the classic grandmother, spoiling her grandchild and pushing her to be the best in whatever she did.

Grandma Zella would do anything for her little JDub.

Grandma Burtch: When I was growing up, her house was one of adventure and satisfied appetites; we used to cast tents in the living room and drink homemade chocolate milkshakes, disassemble mattresses for trampolines and shake chandeliers on the floor below, perform dances and cheers and see how high JDub could fly, devour potato rolls at dinner and cinnamon rolls at breakfast.  Now that I am grown and more adult than I used to be (although jumping on beds is still entertaining), I think a great deal more of my grandma; if anyone can teach you about class or how to be lovely, it is surely her.  With every pair of heels I slip on and every unmeasured recipe ingredient I throw in, I will think of her.

Grandma Burtch has been there for every major step in my life, pushing me to be lovely in everything I accomplish.

We can't forget about my parents and their grandkids.

PDub's Grandparents.......

Grandpa and Grandma Tolka:  When I was little, I remember going to their house with my sister every Sunday.  We would usually play marbles or rummy on teams; I was always on grandpa’s, and my sister was always on grandma’s.  The competition was always intense, but no matter a winner or loser, we all got ice cream.  If my sister and I had missed the Saturday morning cartoons, Grandma and Grandpa would have them recorded for us to watch.  During the hot summer, I remember riding in the tractor with my grandpa, feeling like I was on top of the world.  With every farm field I pass, to this day I will always be reminded of Grandpa and Grandma Tolka.

Grandpa Tolka with his new love, Doris (boy, can she bake!).

Grandpa and Grandma Williams:  At the age of 8, my Grandpa bought me my first set of golf clubs (Lady Velvets) from a rummage sale and took me to the golf course.  Every summer from then on I spent with him out at the country club, throwing him out of golf carts and searching through creeks for our golf balls.  Looking back now, I can’t believe the patience he had teaching me to play and watching me top it or duff it shot after shot.  As for Grandma, I remember playing Monopoly or Rummikub and always having the suspicion that she was sneaking extra tiles for Rummikub (apparently both sets of my grandparents were very competitive).  She would also race me to put my seatbelt on in the car, such a good way to teach a kid to strap in and I still think of her every time I get in the car.  Unfortunately my Grandpa passed away earlier this year, but he will be with me every time I tee it up.

Grandpa and Grandma Williams, married for 60 years.